Chapter 20

Summary

Part 1

Faye was in her room and heard the blind piano player, named Cotton Eye, knocking at the door. He came in and asked her if he could take the night off because he was feeling bad. Kate came in and told him he should stop smoking opium. At first, he denied smoking, but then admitted that he would stop. When he left, Faye told Kate she was just like a daughter to her and did not want her to be a prostitute any longer. Kate said she had to work, for she needed the money. She said even if Faye would take care of her now, she would not live forever and then Kate would be without any security again. Kate then told Faye she had five regulars coming that night. Faye was shocked that Kate saw so many men. She tried to convince her not to see any of them, but Kate would not agree. Faye then told Kate to come to her room at the end of the night because she had a surprise for her. When Kate left the room, she leaned against the door and yawned luxuriously.

Part 2

There were few customers that night because the Woodmen of the World, a group of men who were supposed to come to FayeÂ’s after their meeting, were detained when one of their members had a heart attack and died. The women were bored and wanted to go to bed. When they urged Kate to let them lock up, Kate said that they would close at two oÂ’clock, as always. Then Kate told the other women that Faye had not been feeling well lately and had fainted one day. She warned them not to tell Faye she had said anything to them. One of the other women said she also had noticed Faye looking flushed. Finally, Kate told them to lock up. Then she went upstairs and changed into a dress that made her look like a girl. She took out a gold watch and wrapped it up.

Kate went to FayeÂ’s room and found that Faye had set it up for a party, with champagne and cake. Kate gave Faye the watch as a present. It was inscribed, "To C. with all my heart from A." She told Faye it had been her motherÂ’s watch, and it was her motherÂ’s last gift to her. Now she wanted her new mother to have it. Faye told Kate she had a present for her too. Kate opened a piece of rolled paper and found FayeÂ’s will. It gave everything unconditionally to Kate at her death. As Kate relished the news quietly, Faye wanted to know what was keeping her so solemn. Kate told her she had never thought people could be so good. She told Faye she was sure that FayeÂ’s relatives would come and contest the will, but Faye assured her that she had no relatives and that she was not even using her real name.

Faye insisted that Kate open the champagne and drink. Kate was afraid, remembering the time she drank wine and revealed all her intentions to Mr. Edwards. Faye, however, insisted. When she drank the wine, Kate suddenly lost all her inhibitions and started telling Faye mean things. She called her a fat worm and revealed she was never going to give up prostitution because she got more money than Faye knew about by practicing sadomasochism on the men with razors and whips. Faye screamed in horror and told Kate she wanted her to leave. Kate gave Faye a glass full of paregoric, putting her to sleep.

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